Andy Long is an award-winning photographer whose images have appeared in over 30 publications including National Geographic and Animal Planet. Long recently moved to Tyler, TX and will be displaying some of his wildlife photography at Caffe Tazza tonight from 6-9pm. Readers with an interest in wildlife or photography in general are encouraged to swing by for what promises to be an amazing display. 

Here are a few of Long’s photographs, as seen on his website http://firstlighttours.com/.

Be sure to report back and comment on your favorite photograph, or let us know your favorite drink at Caffe Tazza. Enjoy!

Posted under Events.
Comments: 1

This Thursday, four downtown Tyler museums will hold a joint open house with special events from 4 – 7pm. Christmas and winter-themed displays and exhibits will be available to the public free of charge at the Goodman-LeGrand Museum, the Cotton Belt Depot, the Discovery Science Place and the Smith County Historical Society.

“Downtown Tyler is the home of some outstanding museum facilities, and the public has the opportunity to see each one and celebrate the holiday season at the same time,”  said Beverly Abell, Tyler Main Street Program director. “Each museum will hold special activities that highlight the mission of each facility.”

For complete details, see cityoftyler.org or call (903) 593-6905.

Posted under Events.
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As the holiday season arrives, many couples around the Tyler area are preparing to exchange their vows. And whether you desire a holiday-themed wedding near Christmas time or a traditional wedding throughout the year, Tyler has some magnificent wedding locations.

Wedding Locations for Outdoor Weddings

Many brides and grooms choose to have an outdoor wedding, and Tyler provides several outstanding venues for both comfort and beauty. Some of the favorites outdoor wedding venues include Castle on the Lake in Jacksonville, Holly Tree Country Club in Tyler and of course Tyler’s famous Rose Garden. New venues are opening frequently throughout the east Texas area, including The Legacy in Jacksonville.

Wedding Locations for Indoor Weddings

There are numerous facilities across Tyler for indoor weddings, and many couples choose to take advantage of one of the beautiful local churches or wedding chapels. Other venues include the Tyler Woman’s Building, the McClendon House, or one of the many country clubs in the Tyler area.

Of course there are many options for selecting the right location for that special day. Leave a comment below with the location or venue of a wedding you have recently attended.

**UPDATE**

Vanessa McKellar, a Tyler wedding videographer, mentions two of her favorites: Villa di Felicita and Elmwood Gardens. Thanks Vanessa!

Posted under Events.
Comments: 4

Tyler sports and outdoors enthusiasts have a new shopping option beginning this week, with the grand opening of Academy Sports + Outdoors on Broadway in South Tyler. The 86,000 sq. foot newly constructed building held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday.

Shopping in Academy is easy – virtually all of the 108 U.S. stores are designed the same. After walking in, turn left for sports gear and shoes, or turn right for hunting and fishing. Clothing and camping accessories can be found in the middle of the store.

View Larger Map

Posted under New, Shopping.
Comments: 1

Tyler’s Discovery Science Place ranks among the top 25 science centers across the nation who cater to young children, according to a list published in the September issue of Parents magazine. The Discovery Science Place is located in downtown Tyler, and is open seven days a week.

Discovery Science Place opened in 1993, and offers over 85 interactive activities and exhibits built to explore, amaze and educate children. A new exhibit will open this September called “Color: The Science and Art of Seeing Light”.

If you haven’t visited this fun Tyler attraction in a while, this fall would be a terrific time to take the kids to Discovery Science Place! For more inforamtion, see www.discoveryscienceplace.com.

Posted under Attractions.
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You may have heard about Craigslist, the spartan-looking community site that is one of the most popular online destinations in the U.S.  The website, currently ranked the 11th most popular U.S. website, provides a free method for neighbors and local communities to meet, swap, sell, advertise and pretty much everything else you would want to do.  Last year, Craigslist came to Tyler / East Texas at http://easttexas.craigslist.org/.

For those unfamiliar with the website, here are a few things that can be accomplished for free using Craigslist:

• Sell that used car
• Find a full or part-time job
• Advertise a garage sale
• Meet up for a date
• Offer babysitter services
• Post a job opening
• Chat about…anything!
• Barter for some items
• Find or offer a ride
• Donate some furniture or supplies
• Find some real estate
• Buy a used cell phone
• Adopt a kitten or pet

Of course that’s just scratching the surface! Head on over to http://easttexas.craigslist.org/ and see for yourself!

Posted under Shopping.
Comments: 2

Tyler ISD was delighted to accounce that all of its schools received an “academically acceptable” or higher ranking from the TEA in 2008.  Nine Tyler elementary schools improved from acceptable to recognized, and two schools received the highest rating: exemplary.

“We are very proud of the hard work and effort of all of our teachers and staff who helped to make this accomplishment possible,” said Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid. “We know we still have a lot of work ahead of us, but we want to take some time to celebrate our campuses success.”

According to TEA, ratings are given based on student performance on the statewide Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests, dropout rates and high school graduation rates. This year, more Tyler schools than ever before achieved the “exemplary” or “recognized” rating.

Posted under News, School.
Comments: 1